Thread by @SomalilandUS

Today, the final text of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was published by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. It includes a historic new directive in Section 1275 calling for a stronger U.S.-Somaliland partnership. rules.house.gov/sites/democrat… (1/14)

Here’s what the NDAA says about #Somaliland 👇 (2/14)

Requires @StateDept, @DeptofDefense and @USAID to submit an annual report to Congress detailing assistance, diplomatic engagement and security initiatives in Somaliland. (3/14)

Requires @StateDept and @DeptofDefense to produce a feasibility study by June 2023 on opportunities for enhanced security collaboration between the U.S. and Somaliland. (4/14)

Clearly distinguishes Somaliland from the Federal Member States of Somalia. (5/14)

Thanks to the initiative of a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, the NDAA charts a path for greater engagement between the U.S. and Somaliland. (6/14)

How did we get here? (7/14)

1) Consistent, professional dialogue and engagement with Democrats and Republicans, who were persuaded by the merits of our advocacy. (8/14)

2) The bipartisan Somaliland Partnership Act (S.3861), introduced in March by @SenatorRisch @ChrisVanHollen and @SenatorRounds, and joined by @SenatorWicker before approval by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in June.
congress.gov/bill/117th-con… (9/14)

Somaliland is profoundly grateful to them for initiating the effort to recognize our value as a strategic partner of the U.S. and in particular to @SenatorRisch for his enduring leadership (10/14)

3) An amendment offered by Rep. Chris Smith that was included in the House-approved NDAA. We are incredibly appreciative of Rep. Smith’s longstanding leadership to advance closer U.S.-Somaliland relations. rules.house.gov/bill/117/hr-79… (11/14)

4) A successful effort by @RepVeasey, who proposed report language in the House Armed Services Committee’s guidance instructing @DeptofDefense to explore areas of potential security cooperation. govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CR… (12/14)

What’s next? Following the NDAA’s passage by the House of Representatives and the Senate, it will go to the desk of @POTUS to sign into law. Once signed, the NDAA will include the first reference to Somaliland in U.S. law since we reasserted our independence in 1991. (13/14)

Citizens of Somaliland, many of whom revere America and have friends and family in the U.S., have long-awaited such an acknowledgement. The NDAA significantly advances Somaliland’s partnership with the U.S. Today we made history. (14/14)